| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Restricted — rules apply |
| Permit / License Required | Yes. A City of Kelowna short-term rental business licence is required, and the host must also register with the B.C. provincial short-term rental regi |
| Tax Rate | 8% PST on short-term accommodation plus 3% MRDT in Kelowna, plus 5% GST if the host is GST-registered. The MRDT and PST figures come from Tourism Kelo |
| Night / Day Cap | No annual night cap found. Principal-use STRs in the STR sub-zone need not be owner-occupied for any minimum number of days. |
| Minimum Stay | None found. Short-term rental is defined as stays of under 90 days. |
| Permit Fee | City licence $345 per year plus a $50 non-refundable application fee. Provincial registry: $100 per year for a host's principal residence or part of i |
| Penalties | City: fines of up to $500 per day, per offence, with higher amounts possible if enforcement escalates. The province can also enforce under the Short-T |
| Primary Residence Required | Yes outside the STR sub-zone. Under the City bylaw a host may rent their principal residence (or rooms in it), or a secondary suite or carriage house |
| Occupancy Limit | Unknown for most properties (see unconfirmed). In the Agricultural Land Reserve, tourist accommodation is capped at 4 bedrooms in the principal reside |
Short-term rentals in Kelowna are allowed but subject to significant restrictions under local regulations as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes. A City of Kelowna short-term rental business licence is required, and the host must also register with the B.C. provincial short-term rental registry (in force since 1 May 2025). The provincial r. The associated permit fees are City licence $345 per year plus a $50 non-refundable application fee. Provincial registry: $100 per .
Short-term rental operators in Kelowna should be aware of these tax obligations: 8% PST on short-term accommodation plus 3% MRDT in Kelowna, plus 5% GST if the host is GST-registered. The MRDT and PST figures come from Tourism Kelowna and secondary tax guides; no gov.bc.ca quote was retrieved for them in this pass.. Yes for provincial sales tax and the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) on short-term accommodation; GST registration is required once taxable.
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Kelowna include: Primary residence requirement: Yes outside the STR sub-zone. Under the City bylaw a host may rent their principal residence (or rooms in it), or a seco. Rental day cap: No annual night cap found. Principal-use STRs in the STR sub-zone need not be owner-occupied for any minimum number of d. Occupancy limit: Unknown for most properties (see unconfirmed). In the Agricultural Land Reserve, tourist accommodation is capped at 4 be. Minimum stay: None found. Short-term rental is defined as stays of under 90 days..
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Kelowna: Principal-use (non-owner-occupied) STRs are allowed only on properties rezoned into the City's STR sub-zone; the province's release says the City intends to limit these to buildings in tourism-zoned a.
Hosts who fail to comply with Kelowna's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. City: fines of up to $500 per day, per offence, with higher amounts possible if enforcement escalates. The province can also enforce under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (amounts not confirm.
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Kelowna: Under B.C.'s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, platforms must register with the province and validate host registration numbers. Platform fees are $5,000 a year for 1,000 or more listings and $600.
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Kelowna but subject to restrictions. Hosts must comply with local permit requirements and zoning rules. Hosts need a City of Kelowna business licence ($345 a year plus a $50 application fee) and a B.C. provincial registration number shown on every listing. In most of the city you can only rent your own
Yes. Kelowna requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes. A City of Kelowna short-term rental business licence is required, and the host must also register with the B.C. provincial short-term rental registry (in force since 1 May 2025). The provincial registration number must appear on listings..
Short-term rental hosts in Kelowna are subject to the following tax obligations: 8% PST on short-term accommodation plus 3% MRDT in Kelowna, plus 5% GST if the host is GST-registered. The MRDT and PST figures come from Tourism Kelowna and secondary tax guides; no gov.bc.ca quote was retrieved for them in this pass..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Kelowna may face enforcement. City: fines of up to $500 per day, per offence, with higher amounts possible if enforcement escalates. The province can also enforce under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (amounts not confirmed in this pass)..
Kelowna is the first B.C. city exempted from the provincial principal residence rule (from 1 June 2026), but only for the STR sub-zone. Everywhere else, STRs are limited to the host's principal residence.
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